Scleroderma

Autoimmune Disorder

Scleroderma

Autoimmune Disorder

What is Scleroderma?

Scleroderma is a disease that involves the buildup of scar-like tissue in the skin. It also damages the cells the line the walls of the small arteries.

Signs and Symptoms

Swelling of the hands and feet

Red spots on the skin

Excessive calcium deposition in the skin

Joint contractures

Weight loss

Hair loss

Tight, mask-like facial skin

Ulcerations on the fingertips and toes

Pain and stiffness in the joints

Persistent cough

Shortness of breath

Heartburn

Difficulty swallowing

Digestive and gastrointestinal problems

Constipation

Fatigue

Pathogenesis

The exact cause of scleroderma is unknown. Although rarely scleroderma can run in families, most cases do not show any family history of the disease.

Diagnosis

Blood tests

Pulmonary function tests

Electrocardiogram

Echocardiogram

Gastrointestinal tests

Kidney funtion

Management

There is currently no cure for scleroderma. Instead, treatment is directed at controlling and managing the symptoms.

Skin treatments

Digestive remedies

Treatment of lung disease

Exercise

Joint protection

Skin protection

Diet

Dental care

Stress Management

Prognosis

Localized scleroderma nearly always carries a good prognosis and a normal lifespan. Even localized scleroderma, however, can cause some severe effects in children, including impaired growth, limb imbalance, and problems with flexing and beding muscle. Five-year survival among these patients has remained steady at around 90%.

Epidemiology

Approximately 250 persons per million American adults are affected by scleroderma. It usually develops between the ages of 35 and 55, although a pediatric form also occurs. Scleroderma is four times more common in women than it is in men.